Black Market Beagles has joined QMx! And it’s a good thing.

Mainly it means that Adam Levermore-Rich’s geek-based business will now get more attention, the quality of the materials should improve, and his browncoat-based designs will be a bit more official. And Qmx gets a ready-made line of beautifully designed geekwear. Win-win.

First up, a shoulder patch for the 12th Cavalry Airborne.

The men and women of the Independents 12th Cavalry,  whose unit slogan “Death From Above” described them perfectly: They rained terror and ordinance on enemy forces where ever they were –  space, the air or the ground. Their heavily-armed, but surprisingly maneuverable, gunboats could be configured for all manner of missions from patrol to deep insertion to flying fortress duty. Small enough to avoid detection, fast enough to hit quick and retreat, big enough to grapple even with the capital ships, the gunboats were the perfect vehicle for an armed militia that specialized in guerrilla warfare.

The 12th Cavalry were Browncoats to reckoned with.

And a T-shirt commemorating the ISV Cerberus, the Bravest Browncoats, featuring a logo designed by Serenity graphic designer Geoff Mandel.

There is perhaps no braver soldier than the one who fights a hopeless battle not because they think they can win, but because they know it is right. Such was the caliber of crew aboard the ISV Cerberus, Browncoats that fought tirelessly and with distinction from the hopeful beginning to the bitter end. Taken down not by superior skill or greater bravery, but by a technological edge brought about by vast industrial power.

More stuff is coming! And you can buy it in QMx’s new shopping cart system, that’s a bit more robust and feature-rich than their previous one (although the speed could use some work, guys).

This is your last chance to get the preorder price for Dark Horse’s trade paperback collection of “Serenity: Better Days.”

Serenity: Better Days follows everyone’s favorite space cowboys in a thrilling, action-packed adventure, where Mal and his crew take on a heist that promises a big payoff. But when one of Serenity’s crew is taken captive and tortured, the gang must put their enduring differences aside and work together to save one of their own, even if it may mean losing the cash prize of a lifetime.

Joss Whedon returns to the world of his blockbuster film Serenity, reuniting with Brett Matthews and Will Conrad, his collaborators on the bestselling 2005 series Those Left Behind.

* Collects Serenity: Better Days #1-3.

Full color, 80 pages, TPB, 6″ x 9″, with an introduction by Adam Baldwin, and if you preorder it from TFAW.com you get 20% off cover price, so, you know, do that.

Jason Palmer has finished the final announced portrait for his amazing Serenity Portrait Set: The Operative.

Preorders are now closed, and you have a variety of ways to get it. There are nine portraits of the crew and one of the ship. You can order the individual 13″x19″ prints as either limited edition Giclee prints (heavy stock paper) or on canvas, gallery-wrapped on museum stretcher bars. There are also some of the original paintings available. And he still has some Book portrait prints autographed by Ron Glass.

However, there are two portraits that are only available if you purchase the set: the Operative and one surprise one. The set can be ordered by itself or with a handsome silver polyethylene album with acid free page inserts and a matching carrier with shoulder strap, both featuring the Serenity logo. (Prints can be removed from the album if you’d rather frame ‘em, and why wouldn’t you). You also get character description pages with production sketches and quotes by Jason. Sets are available in Giclee prints or canvas.

Then there’s the Collector’s Album, which has everything listed above except the album is brushed aluminum with the Serenity logo on the cover, laser etched and hand painted and it comes with a matching aluminum box. You also get a one of a kind, original art pencil drawing by Jason Palmer of one of the characters (varying sizes 11×17 to 13×19).

This is gorgeous work, very true to the characters with rich, textured backgrounds that provide a real sense of the character’s personality. And you’ve got all that wall space you’re not doing anything with…

Stop paying attention for a few days and look what happens… One of the choicest bits of Serenity Stuff ever goes on sale, and for a good cause, to boot. Or, more accurate, to hat.

The original, screen-used, Adam-Baldwin-wearing Jayne hat is up for auction thanks to the man himself and the California Browncoats.  Proceeds go toward the Marine Corp - Law Enforcement Foundation to “encourage the spiritual, moral, intellectual and physical development of children through education.” This is a group that Adam has supported for some time now.

And your cash will go straight to ‘em. Per the Cali Browncoats:

95% of the proceeds of this auction will go to MC-LEF.  The remaining 5% will go toward covering some of the eBay and Paypal fees.  The California Browncoats will pay any remaining fees in addition to donating their services in carrying out these auctions.  If there is any of the 5% left over after fees, we will donate it to MC-LEF.

So don’t miss out on your chance to own possibly the most iconic prop in the whole damn ‘verse. Plus you’ll look incredibly cunning, guaranteed.

OK,  the vest doesn’t actually do stunts. It has a stunt stunt vest for that.

This is the stunt version of the vest the Operative (or his stunt double) wore during the closing scenes of Serenity.

The chest plate worn by The Operative in the sci-fi adventure Serenity. This costume was worn by The Operative stunt double in scenes near the end of the film on Mr Universe’s planet where he tries to stop Mal (Nathan Fillion) broadcasting the message. The chest armour is made from rubber sprayed a dark bronze colour with an elasticated back section. Labelled inside as ‘stunt dbl’.

Buy it at the Prop Store of London.

Remember how excited we all were when Multiverse announced they were doing a Firefly MMO game?

Remember how we really haven’t heard much about it since then?

FOX and Multiverse have announced they’re coming out with an online Buffy game, which is all well and good, and oh, by the way, the Firefly game is on hold.

Fox is delaying further development and release of the announced-in-2006 MMO, Firefly. Originally set to be released in 2008, the game has yet to have any major presence; no screenshots, trailers, or betas have hit the scene, and now it seems none will until the Buffy game is completed.

This is because vampires are in again, isn’rt it? I blame Facebook.

Christina Hendricks will do for you.

More to the point, she’ll knit a scarf for you if you win the auction to benefit Project Angel Food:

Project Angel Food delivers free meals prepared with love to nourish the body and spirit of men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS and other serious illnesses.

You pick the color, and you’ll get a personal photo of Christina along with it. This is a great one-of-a-kind and very personal item for a good cause, so you don’t want to miss your chance.